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They helped us move in and survive Week One, they splash the drab walls and doors of residence halls with creativity and they’re always available to help when life happens. They’re our Junior Counselors (JCs) and Resident Assistants (RAs) – the student employees of St. Olaf residence life. Of course there are monetary incentives for employees, but how do our benefits compare to those of other schools? And why would these student workers choose to attend Playfair a second time or patrol the residence halls during their precious weekends?
Residence life workers do in fact receive a little green for their work, though this hasn’t always been the case. The JC position was established in 1937 and was entirely staffed by volunteers until a change was made just 16 years ago. Today, JCs receive a $1,500 yearly stipend that goes toward the cost of room and board.
The RA position was not established until 1987. RAs earn $3,000 a year and also have the benefit of choosing to live in a single without having to pay an additional fee, a $1,000 value.
The residence life board reviews the amount of money JCs and RAs make on a yearly basis. Part of the review includes comparing St. Olaf’s pay and benefits to other colleges. Comparisons tend to be made with schools similar to St. Olaf in size and community.
At Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., RAs receive a free room for the year, equivalent to $4,000, and also receive $365 a month as a stipend. Returning staff members receive a higher wage.
At Gustavus, residence life workers receive $5,000 a year, plus registration priority, free parking, cable TV and an additional $375 stipend each semester for returners.
But according to Charlie Potts, the Associate Director of residence life at St. Olaf, that comparison is not always a fair one. “Schools have very different budget structures and varied numbers of student staff and a varied number of residents living on campus, so a lot of our comparisons are really ‘apples to oranges,’” Potts said.
What accounts for this disparity? Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life Pamela McDowell explained that St. Olaf has a much larger residence life staff relative to its population, and staff size affects pay. The University of Minnesota, which houses over 7,000 students, just surpassed St. Olaf’s residence life staff in size even though St. Olaf houses only 2,550 students. St. Olaf remains committed to keeping a large staff in order to foster community, especially in first-year residence halls.
But do our JCs and RAs feel their stipends compensate workers for the amount of work they do?
“I do not believe that JCs get paid enough for the amount of time we put into our jobs,” Garrett Klein, a JC in Mohn Hall, said. “If one were to take Minnesota’s minimum wage and apply it to every hour we were ‘on the clock,’ which is a considerable amount of time if one factors in staff meetings, meetings with our AC, corridor meetings, corridor events and hours spent on duty, I’d venture to say that we’d make well over the $1,500 the school pays us. Not only is the job time-consuming, it is also an emotional investment. However, we know what we’re getting into before we start in the fall.”
But other workers feel satified with the compensation. “I do think I am compensated enough, because the amount is basically the amount of a work award, and I feel as though I put in 5-8 active day hours a week into my job,” Francine Boylan, an RA in Ytterboe Hall, said. “Most people with a $3,000 work award work about 7-8 hours a week. I think it just about all evens out.”
Whether satified with pay or not, residence life employees find satifsaction in their work. “Being able to live in a freshman dorm again has been a great surprise; all the raw energy. And when it comes to a dorm being outgoing, nothing compares to a freshman dorm,” said Will Erickson, a JC in Hoyme Hall.
In addition to helping underclassmen grow, the residence life employees have the opportunity to do some growing of their own. “There are many advantages to this job,” Klein said. “The most prominent for me is being able to meet an entirely different group of students and get to know them better through corridor meetings and other events. It has also led me to be more comfortable as a leader.”
Although JCs are paid less in comparison to many other residence life staff members around the country, McDowell emphasizes that JCs have the unique opportunity to work in pairs, and Potts claims that RAs and JCs act as more than just rule-enforcers. “They serve as mentors, campus resources and friends to their residents. The skills you can develop as a leader in the residence halls really translate to any career or path in life that you choose,” Potts said.
heiberg@stolaf.edu
With additional reporting by Alexandra Wertz
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